The 2018 Mazda CX-8 (2.2L Diesel) is the thinking person’s luxury SUV. It was designed for those who found the CX-5 a bit too tight for the family but found the massive CX-9 a bit too cumbersome for the city. By stretching the wheelbase of the CX-5 to match the CX-9, Mazda created a "Goldilocks" 7-seater that is lean, agile, and incredibly fuel-efficient.

​This isn't your average noisy diesel engine. The 2018 model features a majorly refined Twin-Turbo Diesel power plant that is famous for its "stealth" performance. With 450 Nm of torque, the CX-8 doesn't just accelerate; it surges. Whether you have all seven seats filled or you're overtaking on a steep incline, the engine never feels strained.  Mazda introduced "Natural Sound Smoother" technology, tiny dampers inside the pistons to cancel out diesel clatter. At highway speeds, the cabin is so quiet it’s easy to forget you aren't driving a petrol car. Despite its size, it can achieve roughly 6.0 L/100km (16 km/L) on the highway. This gives you a massive cruising range of over 1,000 km on a single tank.

​The interior of the CX-8 feels more like a private lounge than a family hauler. Unlike "5+2" SUVs where the back row is for "emergencies only," the CX-8's long wheelbase provides genuine legroom for adults in the third row. With your heated seats and power boot, the daily grind feels like a premium experience. The materials from the soft-touch dashboard to the precision-weighted dials, are designed to compete with brands like Lexus and Volvo. The second-row seats slide and recline, and even with the third row up, you have a clever under-floor storage bin to keep the cabin clutter-free.

​The CX-8 acts as a digital co-pilot, using a suite of sensors to monitor your surroundings. The Smart City Brake Support works in both forward and reverse, which is invaluable when maneuvering a long vehicle in tight spaces. This Mazda-exclusive tech subtly adjusts engine power when you turn the steering wheel, shifting the car's weight to the front tires. The result? The car feels much smaller and "tighter" in corners than any 7-seater has a right to.

​The CX-8 is for the driver who needs the space of a van but refuses to give up the soul of a driver's car. It is sophisticated, remarkably frugal at the pump, and carries a "premium-executive" presence that stands out in any parking lot.